How did you come to be a children's author?ĮRIC LITWIN: So my original career path was to become a teacher, and then a principal, and then run for political office. I am always trying to figure out why some books, like yours, work better than others for kids on the spectrum. MAMA BIBLIOSOPH: I've been interested in you as an author for a long time. I am thrilled to be able to share this thought-provoking conversation we had a few weeks ago. His career in special education, I learned, was a huge part of why he became an author, and he was very excited to talk to me and my readers. He emailed me back a few days later, thrilled to hear from a special needs mom. In my email, I told Eric how much his books meant to my family and I mentioned my nascent blog. Luke loved the call and response of answering 'Did Pete cry?' with ' Goodness no!' It was also one of the only ways I heard his beautiful, tiny voice. Before I knew it, reading Groovy Buttons, White Shoes, and School Shoes was something I could do with Luke that he delighted in. At the time, I struggled to connect with my son Luke, but after his twin Harry's ABA therapist Daisy brought over a copy of Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, things slowly changed. I wrote to Eric Litwin soon after I launched this blog. It has a positive message, ice cream, and dinosaurs-and deserves to be wrapped up for every kid this holiday season.

His latest, Groovy Joe: Ice Cream and Dinosaurs, illustrated by the talented Tom Lichtenheld, is the first in a new series published by Scholastic, and is my sons' current bedtime obsession. He is the # 1 New York Times best-selling author of the original four Pete the Cat books ( Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, and Pete the Cat Saves Christmas) and The Nuts series ( The Nuts: Bedtime at the Nuthouse and The Nuts: Sing and Dance in Your Polka-Dot Pants). If you aren't living under a rock, you are familiar with Eric Litwin.

Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin